A couple years ago, I had the privilege of witnessing one of the most important conversations I have ever had the pleasure of being privy to. In the packed auditorium at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, we all sat down for an interview with Bethann Hardison moderated by Harriette Cole. I’m not going to take too much time to write for this piece. I have been pondering on how I was going to convey the knowledge that was passed down in from this conversation. I decided that I was going to let it speak for itself. We all must know when we need to exit and remove ourselves from the center.

For those who don’t know who Bethann Hardison is and what she has done in the fashion industry for the Black model and models in general, I implore you to listen. I request that you carve out some time and pay attention. When the icons speak, we must pay attention for full comprehension. They lay the foundation and we become the stepping stones for the next generation. The building blocks are necessary for growth or we will all remain stagnant and all will be left null and void.

Bethann Hardison, an American fashion model and activism on diversity in the fashion industry.